Machine and method for forming wire seat cushion fillers



MACHINE ANO METHOD FOR FORNING WIRE SEAT CUSHION FILLERS R. K. ODOR Nov. 10, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 27, 1955 vArme )4 slillnflxt,

Nov. 10, 1959 R. K. oDoR 2,912,017

` MACHINE AND METHOD FOR FORMING WIRE SEAT CUSHION FILLERS Filed June 27. 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 @d 1 @4m /6 @dw 1li BY v T70@ R. K. oDoR 2,912,017

MACHINE AND METHOD FOR EORMING WIRE SEAT CUSHION FILLERs Nov. 10, 1959 Nov. 1o, 1959 R k, ODOR 2,912,017

MACHINE AND METHOD FOR F'ORMING WIRE SEAT CUSHION FILLERS Filed June 27, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. E040@ /Of' BY l ` ATTQEN Nov. 10, 1959 R. K. ODOR 2,912,017

MACHINE AND METHOD FOR FORMlNG WIRE SEAT CUSHION FILLERS Filed June 27'. 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENToR. Kak /C Odor United States Patent MACHINE AND METHOD FOR FORMING WIRE SEAT CUSHION FILLERS Ralph K. Odor, Edmond, Okla., Vassignor to R. K. Odor Research Company, Edmond, Okla., a corporation of Oklahoma Application June 21,1955, serial No. 517,916

n z claims. (c1. 14n- 71) "This invention relates to the manufacture of devices coil, the primary object being to provide a satisfactory method of forming the coil into a mat-like tiller, together with a machine for carrying out the method.

It is the most important object of the instant invention to provide a method of handling an elongated coil so as to form the same into a filler for seat cushions or the like and including means to wind the coil into a desired shape, while at the same time interlocking the convolutions of the coil at each turn thereof through employment of a wire retainer threaded through the interlaced convolutions of the coil.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a means of retaining a plurality of turns of a wire coil in predetermined relationship by threading a flexible retainer therethrough while portions of the coil are in coaxial relationship, to the end that each convolution of each turn is interlocked with an adjacent convolution of the next succeeding turn.

A further object of the instant invention is to provide a machine for carrying out the aforesaid method that in cludes a rotatable feeder for pulling the elongated coil from the supply thereof while at the same time pulling an interconnecting wire from a cartridge, all to the end that as the coil is formed into a ller of desired shape, the turns thereof are connected together by the wire.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a coil-handling machine wherein the structure for guiding the coil to a support for the finished article, is itself reciprocable to the end that, as the coil is pulled from ,the supply, it is formed into a spiral on the support.

It is an aim of the instant invention to also provide a machine of the aforementioned character employing a bobbin unit having a cartridge for a supply of wire assoi Another important aim of the present invention is to provide a machine having the rotatable feeder thereof not only operable to pull the coil into a desired shape, but, by virtue of connection with the wire in the cartridge of 'the bobbin unit, serves the purpose of pulling the wire therefrom through the coil as it is laid upon the support.

Other aims and objects of the instant invention include the way in which the guide structure for the coil, the bobbin unit and its wire supply cartridge, and they means for holding the bobbin, are all mounted on a carriage movable progressively toward a central axis as the feeder rotates in one direction about such axis; the way in which opposed holding devices for the bobbin unit are mounted for alternate engagement with the bobbin to clear the coil are threaded on the bobbin in coaxial relationship ICC necting a prime mover on the reciprocable carriage with the rotatable feeder so that the latter is rotated and the carriage reciprocated simultaneously by the single prime mover; and numerous additional aims and `objects to be made clear as the following specification progresses.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of one form of machine for carrying out the method of forming wire seat cushion fillers made in accordance with the present invention, parts being broken away for clearness.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view thereof, parts being broken away and in section to reveal details of construction. l

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical, cross-sectional view showing the reciprocable carriage of the unit and associated parts taken substantially on line III-III of Fig. 1. Y

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 3. y

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, detailed, cross-sectional view vstill further enlarged and taken'on line V-V of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 taken on line VI--Vl of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary, detailed ycrosssectional view taken on line VII-VII of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line VIII-VIII of Fig. 2 but showing only the annular top of the rotatable feeder andillustrating the coil partially wound together withthe relationship of the bobbin unit thereto. j

Fig. 9 is an elevational view the bobbin unit illustrating the manner of feeding the coil to the bobbin unit from zthe guide structure.

Fig. 10 is a schematic view showing the various posi- `tions of the stepping dogs which alternately engage the convolutions of the coil as it is fed onto the bobbin j unit.

,f bin unit.

Fig. 1,4 is' a transverse, cross-sectional view taken on line XIV-XIV of Fig. 13. t

Fig. l5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line XV-XV .of Fig. l2. f v

Fig. 16 isuan elevational view of the outermost face of the structure'shown in Fig. 9, as well as in Figs. 2 and 3 above the top of the feeder and upon which the guide structure for the coil is mounted.

Fig. 17 is a side elevational View of the assembly shown .,in'Fig. 416; and

Fig. 18 is a plan view of a wire seat cushion lle'r produced through use of the method and the machine forming the subject matter of the instant invention.

As shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the machine chosen for illustration of one means for carrying out the method for producing iiller 20 (Fig. 18) includes a tubular pedestal 22 extending upwardly from a suitable base 24 and rotatably mounting a feeder broadly designated by thenumeral 26.

Feeder Z6 is in the nature of a hollow drum havin a cylindrical side wall 28, a bottom 30, and an annular top 32, the latter of which has an internal groove 34 which is arcuate transversely as also seen in Fig. 7 and spiral-shaped as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 8.

It is to be noted that pedestal 22 carries the bottom of the holding means for l cured to the pedestal 22 therewithin, mounts a pair of spaced, vertical plates40 and 42 within the feeder 26, and a circular horizontal support or platform 44 is secured to the plates 40 and 42 within the feeder 26 irnmediately below the inturned top 32. The inner faces of the plates 40 and 42 are provided with horizontal tracks 46 and 48 respectively. It is thus seen that plates 40 and 42, tracks 46 and 48.and the support 44, are all stationary and that the feeder 26 rotates therearound.

The tracks 46 and 48 support a carriage broadly designated by the numeral 50 between the plates 40 and 42 for horizontal reciprocation diametrically of the wall 28 and the support 44. Carriage 50 is provided with a U-sLiped frame 52 mounting a prime mover such as an electric motor 54 and provided with rollers 56 that ride along the tracks 46 and 48. Motor 54 is operably coupled with the feeder 26 to rotate the latter in the manner illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings, its drive shaft 58 having a gear 60 in mesh with a gear 62 on an idler shaft 64.

A vertical driven shaft 66 is provided with a pinion 68 on its lowermost end that normally meshes with a spiral rack 70 secured directly to the uppermost face of the bottom wall as also seen in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. Intermeshing bevel gears 72 and 74 secured to shafts 64 and 66 respectively, complete the driving connection between prime mover 54 and the rotatable feeder 26, it being noted that there is provided a roller 76 that rides along the back face of the spiral rack 70 to hold the pinion 68 in mesh with the teeth of rack 70.

At this juncture, it is also to be noted that the driving connection just described from prime mover 54 to the pinion 68, is all mounted on the frame 52 of carriage 50 for reciprocation therewith and inasmuch as the carriage 50 is held against rotation by virtue of the connection between shaft 38 and pedestal 22, yfeeder 26 is rotated and carriage 50 is moved along tracks 46 and 48 simultaneously upon energization of the motor 54. In other words, by virtue of the spiral formation of rack 70, whenever the motor 54 is energized to rotate the feeder 26 in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 8, the carriage 50 will move radially toward the axis of rotation of the feeder 26 and, therefore, the vertical axis of the support 44 as the pinion 68 travels from the outermost convolution of rack 70 to the innermost convolution thereof.

In order to return the carriage 50 to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 adjacent the side wall 28 of feeder 26 without having to reverse motor 54, the pinion 68 may be raised out of meshing relationship with the rack 70. To this end, bearing 78 for the shaft 66, as well as the roller 76, are carried by a disc 80 (Figs. 3 and 4) reciprocable vertically within a short tube 82 foming a part of the frame 52 and depending therefrom.

Shaft 66 consists of a pair of sections 66a and 66b that are splined together so that the section 66b may be raised upon swinging of a handle 84 from the horizontal position shown in Figs. 1-3, 16 and 17, to a vertical position.

Frame 52 extends upwardly through a radial slot 8 6 in support 44 (Figs. 1 and 2) in a pair of spaced standards 88 and 90 shown in Figs. 1 3, 9, 16 and 17. Handle 84 is mounted on'one end of a polygonal loop 92 and a projection 94 on the loop 92 extending oppositely to the handle 84 is disposed between a pair of ears 96 and 98 on standards 88 and 90 respectively, and pivotally connected thereto by ahorizontal pin 100.

A pair of plates 102 straddling the standards 88 and 90 and pivotally connected to the loop 92, are connected to corresponding vertical rodsV Y104 (Figs. 3-4, and,17 that extend through the standards 88 and 90. Such connection is through pivot pins 106 riding in slots 108 4 l of the standards 88 and 90. Rods 104 are pivotally joined as at 112 to a yoke 110 swingable on the frame 52 therebeneath and pivotally connected to disc 80 by diametrically opposed trunnions extending through vertical slots 114 in the tube 82.

The finished article 20, shown in Fig. 18, is composed of three primary parts, namely, a wire coil 116, a reinforcing outermost wire loop 118, and a flexible, interconnecting element in the nature of a lightweight wire, all of which parts are also shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings.

The coil 116 is fed to a position laid upon the upper surface of support 44 from a source of supply (not shown) through a trough-like or hopper-like guide 122 that is secured to a mounting block 124 carried by the standard 88. From the guide 122, the coil 116 passes between legs 126 and 128 of a C-shaped member 130 attached to the standards 88 and 90 therebetween. Coil 116 is threade/i over a bobbin unit broadly designated by the numeral 132 shown best in Figs. 11 to 14 inclusive.

The unit 132 includes a bobbin 134 and a exible cartridge 136 for the wire 120. Tubular cartridge 136 is open at both ends and releasably attached to the bobbin 134 over a rotatable cap 138 on the latter through pin and slot means 140 and 142 respectively. One end of the wire 120 is looped around the cap 138 and extends through a slot 144 in the cartridge 136, thence through the coil 116 for temporary connection to a loop 146 on the feeder 26 as will hereinafter be more thoroughly explained.

The bobbin 134.- consists of a pair of laminated sections 148 and 150 hingedly interconnected through the medium of a bushing 152 coaxial with an opening 154 through the bobbin 134. Sections 148 and 150 are provided with intermeshing gear means 156 for causing the sections 140 and to each swing in like amounts for purposes hereinafter to be made clear.

Bobbin unit 132 is maintained in the position shown in Fig. 8 between the legs 126 and 128 of member 130 as seen in Fig. 9, by virtue of a pair of opposed, vertically reciprocable pins 158 and 169 which alternately engage the bobbin 134 in the opening 154 and through the hinge bushing 152, it being noted that legs 126 and 128 serve as bearings for the pins 158 and 160, as best seen in Fig. 3.

Pins 158 and 160 are carried by legs 162 and 164 respectively of a 4C-shaped carrier 166 which is in turn disposed for vertical reciprocation between the standards 88 and 90 in straddling relationship to the member 130. The vertical pin 160 is rigid to the leg 164, whereas the pin 158 is vertically reciprocable within an upstanding tube 168 secured to leg 162. Spring-loaded pin 158 has a laterally extending handle 170 secured to the uppermost end thereof, and slot-pin means 172 releasably holds the pin 15S in the position shown in Fig. 3 with respect to tube 168.

The prime mover 54 also drives the carrier 166, and to this end, a rotatable disc 174 is provided with a gear 176 that meshes with the gear 60. A crank arm 178 pivotally interconnects the disc 174 and the carrier 166, it being understood that the pivotal connection between the crank 178 and the disc 174 is eccentric to the axis of rotation of disc 174 and gear 176.

Stepping means for causing the convolutions of the coil 116 to move onto the bobbin unit 132 one at a time as the coil 116 is pulled along the guide structure 122 by the feeder 26, takes the form of a double-pointed cscapement 180 as seen in Figs. 16 and 17. It is swung or oscillated through a exible shaft 182 having a laterally extending fork 184 interlocked with an actuating plate 186 secured to the leg 162 of carrier 166.

Structure is also provided as best seen in Figs. 3, 5, 6, 9 and l0 for stepping the convolutions of the coil 116 past the pins 158 and 160 so that the latter do not strike the coil 116 and thereby, be prevented from properly entering the opening 154. Such structure consists or" a pair of substantially L-shaped dogs 188 and 190 carried by the legs 126 and` 128 respectively and driven from the motor 54 through a shaft 192, and intermeshing gears 194 and 196 on shafts 192 and 66 respectively, it being noted that leg 164 is provided with a hole 198 clearing shaft 192 for free vertical reciprocation of the carrier 166. Y

The upper dog 188 lis carried by a pair of rotatable discs 200 and 202 having eccentric pins pivotally receiving the dog 188. A train of gears 204 and a bevel gear 206 operably connect the discs 200 and 202 with a bevel gear 208 on the shaft 192.

Dog 190, spaced outwardly from the dog 188, is similarly coupled with the shaft 192 through discs 210 and 212, a train of gears 214 and intermeshing bevel gears 216. By virtue of such connections with the shaft 192, the two discs 200 and 202 rotate oppositely to the discs 210 212 as shown by arrows in Fig. 9.

Operation In operation, the peripheral heavy-gage reinforcing loop 118 is first threaded through a portion of the coil 16 and placed within the groove 34 in the manner shown in Fig.

8 to form the outermost convolution of the finished article One end of the loop 118 is moved into engagement with a shoulder 218 forming one end of the groove 34 and the opposite end of the loop 118 is engaged beneath a hook 220. Hook 220 reciprocable within the top 32 of the feeder 26, is pivotally connected within a cam slot of a swingable latching device 224 operable to exert a pull upon the hook 220 when swung to the position shown in Fig. 8. This presses the free end of the loop 118 tightly against the shoulder 218.

The bobbin unit 132 is threaded into the coil 116 and positioned between the legs 126 and 128 of the member 130 with the opening 154 aligned with pins 158 and 160. This is accomplished by energizing motor 54 sufficiently to lower the carrier 166 from the position shown in Fig. 3 to thereby lower pin 160. The operator thereupon grasps handle 170 to rotate the pin 158 and release the pin-slot connection 172 and raisesthe pin 158 so that sucient space is provided between the ends of the pins 158 and 160 to receive the bobbin 134. Thereupon, the pin 158 is re-locked into position with respect to tube 168 and with pin 158 extending through opening 154.

It is also understood that at the beginning of the formation of each article 20, carriage 50 is at the outer most end of its path of travel adjacent the side wall 28, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Through manipulation of switch control 226 (Fig. 2) motor 54 is thereupon energized to rotate pinion 68 through shaft 58, gears 60 and 62, shaft 64, gears 72 and 74, and shaft 66.

Rotation of the pinion 68 advances the spiral rack 70 to rotate the feeder 26 on the bearing 36, thereby pulling the coil 116 from its source of supply along the guide structure 122, between the legs 126 and 128, over the bobbin unit 132, and thence to the uppermost surface of support 44 where it is laid up in a spiral as shown in Figs. 8 and 18. Coil 116 is wound into a plurality of side-byside lengths or convolutions by virtue of the fact that the carriage 50 and all of its associated parts are at the same time, progressively shifted horizontally away from the side wall 28 toward the axis of rotation of the feeder 26, all because of the fact that, as the pinion 68 follows the spiral path of the rack 70, it pulls the carriage 50 therewith toward the aforementioned vertical axis.

It isvto be noted that the pins 158 and 160 also carry the bobbin unit 132 along the uppermost surface of the support 44 toward the center of the latter. In Fig. 9 of the drawings, the coil 116 is shown as the same moves from the guide 122 to the bobbin unit 132 and throughoutV the length of the unit 132, portions of two convolutions of the nished article 20 are in substantial coaxial relationship. Consequently, all of the convolutions of the coil 116 are interlaced with the convolutions next adjacent thereto. By virtue of the fact that one end of the wire 120 emanating from the cap 138 and the slot 144 is tied temporarily to the loop 146, the feeder 26 also pulls the wire 120 from the cartridge 136, thereby interlocking the interlaced convolutions and thereby serving as a retainer therefor. f

To the end that the convolutions of the coil 116 clear the pins 158 and 160, these pins are continuously reciprocated by the prime mover 54, through shaft 58, gears 60 and 176, disc 174, crank arm 178, and carrier 166 to which the pins 158 and 160 are attached. It is noted in Fig. 3 that the pins 158 and 160 are always spaced-apart and therefore, when the carrier 166 is at the uppermost end of its path of travel, bobbin unit 132 is retained in place by pin extending into opening 154, as shown in Fig. 15. At this time, that portion of the convolution overlying the bobbin 134, may pass between the pins 158 and 160. Conversely, when the pins 158-160 are at the lowermost ends of their paths of travel, the pin 15S receives and holds the bobbin 134 as that part of a convolution passes between the pins 158 and 160.

Notwithstanding thefact that the coil 116 is actually pulled continuously by the feeder 26, the convolutions of the coil 116 are fed in step-by-step fashion by the escapement which is actuated through reciprocation of carrier 166, through the plate 186 thereon and the fork 184 of flexible shaft 182.

Still further, the convolutions of the coil 116 are shifted along the bobbin 134 and particularly, past the pins 158 and 160 by the action of dogs 1891and 190.

Fig. 10 of the drawings illustrates schematically the way in which dogs 188 and 190 are synchronized with the pins 158 and 160. Leading edge 188a of dog 188 travels anti-clockwise along its lowermost arc and in a direction to move the convolution which it engages along the bobbin 134 as the pins 158 yand 160 ascend, dog 188 reaching the lowermost end of its path of travel as the pin 158 commences to descend. During lowering of the pin 158 the dog 188 is continually shifting the coil 116 so as to clear the pin 158 and permit the same to enter the opening 154 before the pin 168 moves out of the opening 154. By the same token, leading edge 190a of dog 190, engages the coil 116 in timed relationship to upward movement of pin 160 so that the latter does not strike the coil 116 and not properly enter the opening 154. Both dogs 188 and 190 are driven continuously during operation of motor 54 because of the operable connection with shaft 66 through gears 194 and 196 and Shaft 192.

The advantage of utilizing articulated sections 148 and 150 in the bobbin 134 can now be appreciated. As the unit 132 approaches the center of the support 44, the arc of the bobbin 134 will automatically change in accordance with the continual diminishing arc of the convolutions of the finished article 20.

As the operation is completed, the prime mover 54 should be deenergized to position the carrier 166 at the lowermost end of its path of travel, thereby permitting the operator to swing handle 84 upwardly by virtue of the fact that the carrier 166 clears the extension 94; thereupon the operator may release the unit 132 by rotating the handle 170 so that the spring-loaded pin 158 will rise out of the opening 154. Coil 116 and wire 120 may thereupon be clipped and tied at the center of the liner 20 and the latter may be released from within the groove 34 by releasing latch 224. The opposite end of the wire 120 is released from the loop 146 and tied to the loop 118 and the ends of the latter are suitably connected such as by -a weld or splicing clip.

While the novel method of the instant case has been made apparent through the above description of the apparatus chosen for carrying out such method, by way of summary it may be pointed out that the liner 20 is formed by laying an elongated coil into a preselected or desired shape. It is to beunderstood, therefore, that the spiral configuration may be varied solong as adjacent lengths of the coil, whether or not the same are convolute in form, are interlaced and interlocked.

In the method, one manner of providing an interlocking retainer for the interlaced convolutions of the coil is to thread the relatively thin exible wire 120 through the loops of theconvolutions that are presented by such interlacing.

In its narrower aspects, the method contemplates simultaneous formation or winding of the coil le into a predesired form, while the interlacing of the convolutions takes place, and while the retainer element is threaded therethrough to interlock the interlaced loops. More particularly, the threading of the retainer element 120 is preferably effected while portions of the convolutions are in coaxial relationship around the bobbin unit 132 or other threading and supply means for the wire 120.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. AIn a machine of the kind described, a support; structure for guiding an elongated element to said support; feeder means mounted for rotation relative to said structure and the support; means connected with said feeder means for rotating same; means for attaching the element to the feeder means, whereby the element is advanced along the structure as the feeder means is rotated; apparatus for shifting said structure radially relative to the axis of rotation of the feeder means as the latter rotates to lay said element into a spiral on the support; and means for interconnecting the convolutions of the spiral as the same are laid upon the support.

2. `in a machine of the kind described, a stationary support; feeder means mounted for rotation around the support; means connected with said feeder means for rotating same; structure for guiding an elongated element to said support; means mounting said structure for radial movement toward and away from the axis of rotation of the feeder means; means for attaching the element to the feeder means, whereby the element isadvanced along the structure as the feeder means is rotated; means interconnecting said structure and said feeder means for movement of the structure toward said axis as the feeder means rotates in one direction, whereby the element is laid into a spiral upon the support; and means for interconnecting the convolutions of the spiral as the same are laid upon the support.

3. In a machine of the kind described, a horizontal, circular support; feeder means mounted for rotation about the vertical axis of the support; means connected with said feeder means for rotating the same; structure for guiding an elongated element to the uppermost surface of the support; means mounting said structure for movement radially with respect to the support; means for attaching the element to the feeder means, whereby the clement is advanced along the structure as the feeder means is rotated; apparatus for moving said structure as the feeder means is rotated, whereby the element is laid up in a spiral upon the support; and means for interconnecting the convolutions of the spiral as the same are laid upon the support.

4. in a machine of the kind described, a horizontal, circular support; feeder means mounted for rotation about the vertical axis of the support; a carriage mounted beneath the support for radial reciprocation relative to said axis; a prime mover mounted on said carriage; structure mounted on the carriage for guiding an elongated elernent to the uppermost surface of the support; means for attaching the element to the feeder means, whereby the element is advanced along the structure as Ithe feeder means is rotated; mechanism connecting said prime mover with the feeder means for simultaneously rotating the latter in one direction and shifting the carriage toward said axis, whereby the element is laid up in a spiral upon the support; and means for rltronnecto u ing the convolutionsof the spiral as the same are laid upon the support.

5. In a machine as set forth by claim 4 wherein said prime mover has a vertical drive shaft and wherein said mechanism includes a spiral rack carried by the feeder means and a pinion secured to the drive shaft and meshing with the rack; and means for interconnecting the convolutions of the spiral as the same are laid upon the support.

6. In a machine of the kind described, a drum mounted for rotation on a vertical axis and having a top provided with an opening; means connected with said drum for rotating the same; a stationary support in the drum beneath said top; structure for guiding an elongated element ontoy the uppermost surface of the support; means for attaching the element to said top, whereby the element is advanced along said structure as the drum is rotated; apparatus for shifting. said structure radially relative to said axis as the drum rotates to lay said element in a spiral on the support; and means for interconnecting the convolutions of the spiral as the same are laid upon the support.

7. In a machine of the kind described, a drum mounted for rotation on a vertical axis and having a top provided with an opening, and a bottom; a stationary support in the drum beneath said top; a carriage mounted in the drum beneath said support for radial reciprocation relative to said axis; a prime mover mounted on said carriage; structure above the support for guiding an elongated element onto the uppermost surface of the support; mounting means securing said structure to the carriage for reciprocation therewith, said support having a radial clearance slot for said mounting means; means for attaching the element to said top, whereby the element is advanced along said structure as the drum is rotated; means mounted 0n said bottom within the drum and operably coupled with said prime mover for shifting said structure toward said axis and simultaneously rotating the drum in one direction to lay said element in a spiral on the support; and means for interconnecting the convolutions of the spiral as the same are laid upon the support.

8. -In a machine as set forth in claim 7 wherein said means on the bottom of the drum comprises a spiral rack.

9. -In a machine of the kind described, a support; structure for guiding an elongated coil to said support; feeder means mounted for rotation relative to said structure and the support; means connected with said feeder means for rotating the same; means for attaching the coil to the feeder means, whereby the coil is advanced along the structure as the feeder means is rotated; apparatus for shifting said structure radially relative to the axis of rotation of the feeder means as the latter rotates to a speed for laying said coil on the support in a spiral mat having a plurality of convolutions each interlaced with the convolutions 'next adjacent thereto; means coupling said feeder means with said apparatus for operating the latter as the feeder means is rotated; and means for interconnecting the convolutions as the same are laid up to hold the convolutions interlaced.

l0. In a machine of the kind described, a support; a bobbin unit adapted to contain a supply of wire; structure for guiding an elongated coil over said unit in telescoped relationship thereto and thence to said support; feeder means mounted for rotation relative to said structure and the support; means connected with said feeder means for rotating the same; means for attaching the coil and the wire to the feeder means, whereby the coil is advanced along the structure and the wire is pulled from the unit through the coil asl the feeder means is rotated; apparatus for shifting said structure radially relative to the axis of rotation to lay said coil on the support means coupling said feeder means with said apparatus for operating the latter as the feeder means is rotated; and means for holding Ysaid unit in a xed location against movement relative to the structure as the wire is pulled therefrom.

1l. In a machine of the kind described, structure having means for guiding an elongated coil along a predetermined path of travel, said coil having a series of spaced convolutions; feeder means for receiving one end of the coil and pulling the same along said structure; a bobbin unit adapted to contain a supply of wire and disposed to be received by the coil as the same emanates from said structure; means for attaching one end of the wire to the feeder means whereby the wire is pulled from the unit as the coil is pulled over the unit; and retainer means carried by said structure and engageable with said unit transversely through the coil for holding the unit in a fixed location as the wire is pulled therefrom, said re tainer means being shiftable into and out of engagement with the unit to clear said convolutions as the coil is advanced by the feeder means relative to said unit.

12. In a machine as set forth in claim 11 wherein the retainer means comprises opposed pins reciprocable alternately into engagement with the unit.

13. In a machine as set forth in claim 1l wherein is provided stepping means engageable with said convolutions at the retainer means for clearing the convolutions as the retainer means shifts into engagement with said unit.

14. In a machine of the kind described, a horizontal, circular support; feeder means mounted for rotation about the vertical axis of the support; a carriage mounted beneath the support for radial reciprocation relative to said axis; a prime mover mounted on said carriage; structure mounted on the carriage for guiding an elongated coil element to the uppermost surface of the support; means for attaching the element to the feeder means, whereby the element is advanced along the structure as the feeder means is rotated; mechanism connecting said prime mover with the feeder means for simultaneously rotating the latter in one direction and shifting the carriage toward said axis, whereby the element is laid up on the support in a spiral having the proximal convolutions interlaced, said prime mover having a vertical drive shaft, said mechanism including a spiral rack carried by the feeder means and a pinion secured to the drive shaft and normally meshing with the rack; means for shifting the pinion into and out of engagement with the rack; and means for threading a retention member through the convolutions as the same are laid up to hold said convolutions interlaced.

15. In a machine of the kind described, a stationary support having a horizontal, circular platform provided with a radial slot; a carriage reciprocably carried by the support and having a frame extending through the slot; a feeder having a top adjacent the platform rotatable about the axis of the latter; means for attaching an elongated coil to said top; power means mounted on the carriage; mechanism connecting the power means and said feeder for rotating the latter in one direction to pull the coil and for simultaneously shifting the carriage toward said axis, whereby the coil is laid up on the platform in a spiral pattern; a bobbin unit disposed to receive the coil and provided with a wire cartridge; means for attaching the wire of the cartridge to the feeder whereby the latter pulls the wire from the cartridge through the coil as the feeder rotates in said one direction; and holding means on the frame above the platform for retain- 10 ing the bobbin unit in a fixed position relative to the frame as the wire is pulled from the cartridge.

1'6. In a machine as set forth in claim 15 wherein said bobbin unit is disposed to interlace the convolutions of the coil whereby the wire interlocks the convolutions of said pattern.

17. In a machine as set forth in claim 16 wherein said holding means consists of opposed pins reciprocable alternately into engagement with the bobbin unit transversely of the coil.

18. In a machine as set forth in claim 17 wherein is provided stepping means on said frame engageable with said convolutions of the coil for shifting the same along the bobbin unit out of the paths of travel of the pins.

19. In a machine as set forth in claim 18 wherein is provided means coupling said power means with the pins for reciprocating the same and means coupling the power means with the stepping means for actuating the latter.

20. A machine for winding a coil about a fixed axis into a plurality of spiral turns and simultaneously interconnecting said turns, said machine comprising a storage cartridge for a flexible retainer element; a feeder rotatable about said axis and provided with means for rotating the same; means for attaching one end of the coil and one end of said element to the feeder whereby a pull is exerted thereon as the feeder is rotated; means for threading the coil onto the cartridge and simultaneously interlacing the coil convolutions of adjacent turns as the feeder is rotated whereby the retainer interconnects said turns; and structure holding the cartridge against rotation with the feeder as said element is pulled therefrom, said structure being shiftable radially of said axis and being provided wth means for shifting the same toward said axis as the feeder is rotated.

2l. The invention as set forth in claim 20 wherein said feeder has an annulus surrounding said structure and provided with an internal, spiral groove facing said axis and receiving the outermost of said turns.

22. The invention as set forth in claim 20 wherein said feeder surrounds said structure.

23. The invention as set forth in claim 22 wherein is provided a stationary support extending inwardly from the feeder toward said axis and upon which said turns are laid.

24. The invention as set forth in claim 20 wherein is provided a common prime mover for the feeder and said structure carried by the latter for radial movement therewith.

25. The invention as set forth in claim 24 wherein is provided mechanism interconnecting the prime mover and the feeder for rotating the latter and simultaneously shifting the structure toward said axis.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,868,063 Harter July 19, 1932 1,910,612 Kranz May 23, 1933 2,239,097 Horton Apr. 22, 1941 2,350,723 Buttner June 6, 1944 2,628,642 Stockton Feb. 17, 1953 2,648,842 Shockey Aug. 18, 1953 2,775,986 Holroyd Jan. 1, 1957 

